Scalder



Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNETE S'I'EES FATENT QFFICEv soALDER Raymond L. Haynie, Reedv1le Va. Applicata@ December 27, 1940, serial No. 371,967

5 Claims.

This invention pertains to scalders; and more particularly, to the type of scalder used in canneries for scalding tomatoes, and like material, to facilitate the easy peeling thereof, and this application is directed to the same disclosure and claims the same subject matter as my application Serial Number 324,207, filed March 15, 1940, allowed December 4, 1940, and subsequently forfeited.

Injecting the heating steam into the liquid causes a turbulation which would be injurious to the material being scalded if the steam injection were made in the compartment containing the material. I, therefore, providev one or more auxiliary compartments in which I inject steam which heats the scalding liquid, and I circulate the heated liquid from the auxiliary compartments through the material confining compartment back into the auxiliary. compartments. The passages from the auxiliary compartments .into the material compartment and from the material compartment back into the auxiliary compartment are of such size that the speed of circulation of the liquid is governed, Vthe circulation inducing steam inlet and baiile in the material compartment being adjustable to`de'termine the speed of flow.

In my prior Patent No. 2,111,285, of March 15, 1938, I disclose a scalder embodying a nozzleA for injecting steam into the scalding liquid to' induce circulation of the liquid, and a bale plate to direct the circulation. My present invention is an improvement of the machine in the prior patent.

I have noted that ripe tomatoes will sink, and unripe tomatoes will float. Tomatoes of intermediate ripeness will remain suspended between the surface of the liquid and the bottom. Furthermore, ripe tomatoes require a less time in the scalding liquid for the heat penetration'required to release the peelings.

I therefore, provide a container for the mae terial with a minimum horizontal area at the lowest depth, the successive horizontal areas constantly increasing progressively towards the surface, by disposing the tomato conveyor at anV angle to the supply chute. The circulation of the scalding liquid through the material compartment is timed in accordance with the speed of the conveyor to permit the unripe tomatoes to remain in the scalding liquid a longer time than the ripe ones and to vary the time the tomatoes are treated in the liquid in accordance with their ripeness. Y

As a further control, I provide means to adjust the depth of the scalding liquid relative to the depth of the material inthe compartment to regulate the time of treatment of the; material being scalded. Thus, a scalder made in accordance with my invention will scald the( tomatoes sov that all of them receive suicient treatment to release the peelings, the degree of treatment being in ac cordance with the degree of ripeness. -Al1 toma- 1 toes of a given batch receive the amount of scalding necessary to release the peelings, regardless of the degree of ripeness of the several tomatoes in the batch. The scalding treatment is regulated to the/minimum required to accomplish the purpose of releasing the' peelings and enables their ready removal. The penetration is thus maintained at a minimum vand connes the cooking of the tomato to the surface. I also provide means to rchillv the tomatoes after they have left the scaldingA compartment and while they are still on the conveyor. This sudden change from a scalding temperature to the temperature of cold Water causes thepeelings of the tomatoes to crack, and enables them to be removed morereadily. I i

Having thus stated the nature'ofj my invention in general terms, attention is now directed to the drawings, in which: I

. Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a Ycross-sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 lis a plan view;n Figure 4 is a 'crosssectional elevation taken along the line 4 4 ofFigure 2; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional elevation taken on line 6 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 'l is a detailed view of the chilling means disclosed in Figure 2.

Viewing Figure 1, th'ere is noted thev vat-like container I I mountedk on the supporting uprights I2. The container II is adapted to be lled with water or some other suitable medium for scalding the tomatoes or other fruit to be treated by the machine,

Within the containeiyas viewed in Figure 2, there is the conveyor .I4 which functions to trans-v port the material through the scalding liquidv during its treatment and out of the liquid to a deposit station indicated `generally at I 5. 'l The conveyor comprises an endless movable bed I 6 preferably consisting of chain-like fabric to provide perforations, indicated clearly in Figure, through which perforations the'scalding Vliquid can travel freely. Transverse cleats I1 are mounted on the conveyoi` i6 to engage the material being scalded and carry it with the conveyor bed.

The conveyor is mounted on the shafts IS and I9, the shaft I8 being driven through a sprocket and chain 20 and 2| or through other suitable driving mechanism from a source of power not shown. The shaft I8 is preferably mounted in fixed bearings. The shaft I9 in the preferred application of the invention, is mounted in movable bearings indicated at 22, Figure 1, to permit the shaft I9 to be adjusted to apply a greater or lesser tension to the conveyor bed I6.

As noted in Figure 2, the conveyor I4 is disposed longitudinally of the container Il and extends from a position near the lower lefthand corner of the container to a position I outside of the container and beyond it. The conveyor bed thus is disposed diagonally lengthwise of the container.

Tomatoes, or other material to be scalded, are deposited in the supply chute 23 which comprises the sides 24 and the bottom 25. The bottom 25 consists of a plurality of longitudinal ribs 26 disposed in parallel relationship and held in position by the end frame members 21 and 28. The ribs 26 provide sufficient open space between them to permit the ready flow of the water therethrough.

The bottom 25 is disposed at an angle with the bed I6 to provide a horizontal area for the material which is smallest at the greatest depth where the supply chute 23 and conveyor I4 meet, areas of successive horizontal planes toward the surface of the water indicated at 29 increasing progressively from the greatest depth to the surface.

It will be noted that ripe tomatoes will sink, whereas unripe tomatoes will float. Tomatoes at an intermediate degree of ripeness will float suspended below the surface of the liquid. The supply chute 23 and the conveyor I4 are disposed at the angle relative to each other as described and as indicated in Figure 2, in order to utilize this characteristic of tomatoes in the treatment they receive in the present machine. Ripe tomatoes will sink to the bottom and will be engaged by the conveyor immediately to be transported out of the scalding liquid most rapidly. Unripe tomatoes and those which are only partially ripe will remain floating above the surface of the conveyor bed I6, each tomato that does not float on the surface 29 sinking to a horizontal level predetermined by its degree of ripeness. Thus, tomatoes which float at surface level or float submerged at a horizontal level determined by their degree of ripeness, are transported through the scalder by the circulation of the scalding liquid until ,they come in contact with the conveyor bed I6 to be engaged and lifted by a transverse cleat I1. In this manner the less ripe tomatoes have a greater distance to travel in the scalder, depending upon the horizontal level at which they are suspended, and they travel slowly until they are actuated by the bed I6, thus remaining in the scalding liquid, for a longerperiod of time, which period of time is governed, and rendered predetermined, by means to be described hereinafter.

The respective sidewalls 24 of the chute and the respective sidewalls 32 which confine the conveyor I4 are spaced apart less than the full width of the container Il, as will be clearly seen in Figures 3, 5 and 6. Spaced inwardly from the sidewalls 3| of the container are the walls or partitions 32 which demark the scalding compartment, there being two compartments in the preferred embodimentI shown, to which the heat is applied for bringing the liquid to scalding temperature. These auxiliary compartments 33 are disposed on each side of the material compartment 34 and are narrow to maintain the volume of Water contained in them low.

I provide a steam supply system 35 comprising the supply pipe 36, valve controlled, as shown in Figure 3, with pipe lines extending down into the auxiliary compartments and longitudinally thereof at 31. In the steam supply system 35 I provide the temperature controlled inlet 33 which, as indicated, is controlled in accordance with the temperature in the container. I also provide the by-pass 39 which affords a direct line from the steam supply pipe 36 to the outlet pipe 31 which enables me to bring the water to scalding temperature rapidly before placing it under automatic control. This is especially desirable when the apparatus has been idle for a period of time and it is necessary to heat the scalding liquid to a considerable extent.

At 40, I provide a communicating passage through the partition 32 from the auxiliary compartment 33 to the material compartment 34 and at the opposite end of the container I provide another passage 4I through the partition 32 to permit the water to ow from the material compartment 34 back to the auxiliary compartment 33.

The steam supply system 35 functions to heat the liquid to scalding temperature and to maintain it at the desired temperature uniformly. I provide an additional steam inlet 43 at the supply end of the material compartment. This auxiliary steam inlet 43 is for the purpose of inducing circulation of the scalding liquid through the material compartment, and for this purpose a nozzle or jet 44 is provided. Disposed in line with the nozzle is the deflector plate 45 curved as shown in Figure 2 and positioned with its upper edge 46 slightly below the surface of the water. Bolt and slot connections 41, shown clearest in Figure 5, permit the deflector plate 45 to be adjusted vertically. The steam inlet 43 thus functions to induce liquid, which has been heated in the4 compartment 33, to pass into the material compartment and longitudinally thereof through the supply chute 23 and through the conveyor bed I6. From the end of the material compartment opposite the supply end, the water passes through the passage 4I in the partition 32 back into the auxiliary compartment 33 to complete the circuit. The passages 40 and 4I are constricted as indicated in Figure 2, in order to induce the proper and desired circulation. If the passages are too large the water fails to circulate properly. The passage 40 is constricted t0 be disposed at a lower level than the curved deflector plate 4.5 so that the transverse flow of the liquid through the passage 40 does not oppose the flow. directed upwardly and longitudinally. of the container by the jet 44 and the plate 45.

`It will thus be clear that the water between bottom 25 of the supply chute 23 and the bed I6 is constantly flowing in a direction, when viewing Figure 2, towards the right. The valve 48 controls the steam in the steam inlet 43 to regulate the speed of flow of the scalding liquid through the material compartment. It will be readily seen, in viewing Figure 2, that the water nearest; tothe surfacehas a longer distance to travel and, therefore, because the tomatoes float at a horizontal level determined by their degree of ripeness, the tomatoes near the surface Will remain in the scalding liquid a longer time.

I have noted that it requires unripe tomatoes a longer time to scald them sufhciently to permit the peelings to be removed readily. It is the purpose of this machine to scald all of the tomatoes, regardless of their degree of ripeness, only so much as is necessary to release the peelings, and render them readily removable. By the use ofthe machine as herein described, all the tomatoes of a given batch, representing several degrees of ripeness, will receive a degree of treatment necessary to render them uniformly amenable to being pooled. In this manner cooking of the tomato is confined to the surface as much as possible, and the degree of penetration of the cooking is reduced to a minimum. Beyond the extent to which the tomato has been scalded it remains in the raw condition. By the use of my machine I have been able to attain uniform penetration as low as one-eighth of an inch.

To further adjust the degree of scalding of the tomatoes or other material, the container is provided with the overflow pipe e9, adjustable as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, to regulate the -height at which the scalding liquid is maintained inthe material compartment 34 and in the entire container.

The conveyor bed i6 travels from the supply end of the container upwardly and longitudinally toward the deposit station l guided in the guideways 5t. On its way to the deposit station the bed I6 passes through the chilling compartment 5I enclosed b-y the transverse walls 52 and 53. The cold water supply enters the compartment 5| through the pipes 511 which are perforated at their sides to direct streams of Water against the channel members 55, which cause the water to spray as it falls on the tomatoes resting on the bed I5. The water continues to fall through the conveyor bed i6 into the pan 56 from which it is drained away in the discharge pipe 5l. The tomatoes pass from the container, where the peelings have been heated by the scalding liquid, and are suddenly subjected to the cold water supplied in the chilling compartment 5i. This causes the peelings to crack, and permits them to be easily removed by the application of a slight amount of pressure to the surface of the tomato.

The invention is not limited to the detailed modication shown and described but is determined by the scope of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

l. Scalder comprising a tank, longitudinal upstanding partitions in said tank forming a main compartment and auxiliary compartments, an inclined chute and an inclined conveyor extending into said main compartment from opposite end positions and mutually convergent substansaid conveyor, the openings through said'partitions each having ports adjacent opposite ends communicating with the main compartment outside of said scalding chamber providing lateral return circulation through said auxiliary coinpartments, that part of each partition above the port adjacent the feed end and Which denes the upper boundary of saidv port extending down- Wardly substantially to the level of the bottomy of the scalding chamber.

2. Scalder comprising a tank, a longitudinal upstanding partition Ainy said tank forming a main compartmentv and an auxiliary compartment, an inclined chute and an inclined'conveyor extending into said main compartment from opposite end positions and mutually convergent substantially to form a dihedral angle with its apex substantially at the maximum scalding depth, said chute and conveyor dening with the sides of said main compartment a scalding chamber, said chute and conveyor being constructed to permit liquid ilow therethrough longitudinally of said tank, and means positioned outside of said scalding chamber between the chute end o said tank and the vertical plane embracing the apex of said angle for producing a longitudinal flow of liquid through said scalding chamber toward said conveyor, the openings through said partition having ports adjacent opposite ends communicating with the main compartment outside of said scalding chamber providing lateral return circulation through said auxiliary compartment, that part of the partition Iabove the port adjacent the feed end and which denes the upper boundary of said port extending downwardly substantially to the level of the bottom of said scalding chamber.

3. Scalder comprising a tank, a longitudinal upstanding partition in said tank forming a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment communicating with said main compartment, an inclined chute and an inclined conveyor extending into said main compartment from opposite end positions and mutually convergent substantially to form a dihedral angle with its apex substantially at the maximum scalding depth, said chute and conveyor deiining with the sides of said main compartment a scalding chamber, said chute and conveyor being constructed to permit liquid now therethrough longitudinally of said tank, and steam jet supplying and directing means positioned outside of said scalding chamber between the chute kend of said tank and the vertical plane embracing the apex of said angle, for producing a longitudinal flow of liquid through said scalding chamber toward said conveyor, communication of said auxiliary compartment with said main compartment being limited to ports in said partition adjacent opposite ends communicating with the main compartment outside of said scalding chamber providing lateral return circulation through said auxiliary compartment, that port adjacent the chute end being restricted to the lower part of said partition.

4. Scalder comprising a tank, a longitudinal upstanding partition in said tank forming a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment, an inclined chute and an inclined conveyor extending into said main compartment from opposite end positions and mutually convergent substantially to form a dihedral angle with its apex substantially at the maximum scalding depth, said chute and conveyor dening With the sides of said main compartment a scalding chamber, said chute and conveyor being constructed to permit liquid flow therethrough longitudinally of said tank, steam jet supplying and directing means positioned outside of said scalding chamber between the chute end of said tank and the vertical plane embracing the apex of said angle for producing a longitudinal ow of liquid through said chute, scalding chamber and conveyor, that part of said partition which extends below the level of the bottom of the scalding chamber having ports adjacent its opposite ends establishing communication between said main and auxiliary compartments outside of said scalding chamber providing lateral return circulation through said auxiliary compartment, that port which is adjacent the chute end of said tank extending forwardly of the transverse vertical plane through the steam jet means, said partition above the level of the bottom of said scalding chamber being imperforate in that portion which extends from a vertical transverse plane through the apex of said dihedral angle, at least to the vertical transverse plane passing through said steam jet means.

5. Scalder comprising a tank, a longitudinal upstanding partitionin said tank forming a main compartment and an auxiliary compartment, an inclined chute and an inclined conveyor extending into said main compartment from opposite end positions and mutually convergent substantially to form a dihedral angle with its apex substantially at the maximum scalding depts, said chute and conveyor defining with the sides of said main compartment a scalding chamber, said chute and conveyor being constructed to permit liquid flow therethrough longitudinally of said tank, steam jet supplying and directing means positioned outside of said scalding chamber between the chute end of said tank and the vertical plane embracing the apex of said angle for producing a longitudinal flow of liquid through said chute, scalding chamber and conveyor, that part of said partition which extends below the level of the bottom of the scalding chamber having ports adjacent its opposite ends establishing communication between said main and auxiliary compartments outside of said scalding chamber providing lateral return circulation through said auxiliary compartment, that port Which is adjacent the chute end of said tank extending forwardly of the transverse vertical plane through the steam jet means, said partition above the level of the bottom of said scalding chamber being imperforate in that portion which extends from a vertical transverse plane through the apex of said dihedral angle, at least to the vertical transverse plane passing through said steam jet means.

RAYMOND L. HAYNIE. 

